Mazda3 Hatchback

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Comments

  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    That's about the oldest sales trick in the book. Tell the buyer what he/she is asking about is not available for a long time to get them to buy what's on the lot, in this case the Pro5. The name of the game is to get you to buy TODAY, as chances are like 95% that you will not return if you don't, and they know that.

    I once had a sales guy tell me the new models were not due for another month. Later that day I found them hidden in the back of the lot.
  • hatch5hatch5 Member Posts: 27
    That what I thought, but I could not imagine the sales person does such a stupid thing. (Yes I have talked to terrible sales persons who made me sick, but this guy was not bad.) Anyway, so 3 will be coming next month as many people say ?

    Talking about Pro5, I did test drive one and loved it! I imagined cheap interior and ride, and poor acceleration. Then I drove Miata, and now I am lost.
  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    The guy is just trying to make a living. So he distorts the truth a little on the chance that he could get a sale today. Nobody REALLY knows when they will arrive, right? It could be March! He knows there is only a 1 in 20 chance you will be back anyway, so he doesn't much care if you catch him in an obvious lie. On the other hand, if you fall for his line, you just might buy a car today. Get it?
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    a closer look and admire the "craftsmanship" of the hood and the front door: http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/brunoluong/lst?&.dir=/Mazda3- &.src=ph&.begin=35&.view=t&.order=&.done=http- %3a//f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/brunoluong/lst%3f%26.dir=/Mazda3%2- 6.src=ph%26.view=t
  • dinu01dinu01 Member Posts: 2,586
    Makes it look very "muscular".

    Not bad at all.

    Dinu
  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    Bruno, is that you standing there next to the car?
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    this picture is from someone in Germany.
  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    Sorry, just a little joke.
  • lmp180psulmp180psu Member Posts: 399
    From the pics, it looks like you can open the hatch glass independent of the whole hatch. Is that true, or just an illusion from the angle of the pic?
  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    I doubt it, and I hope not. It's a good place for rattles.
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    No, mazda6s is right, you can't open the glass.
  • southflorida33southflorida33 Member Posts: 7
    Has anyone seen or know of a roof rack for the Mazda3 ???
  • lmp180psulmp180psu Member Posts: 399
    for the quick response! BTW Bruno, great website!
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    I like it when the rear glass opens. :-(

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • mpg5mpg5 Member Posts: 68
    5 DOOR WITH 6 CD, LEATHER AND MOONROOF FOR $18,375. SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF CAR FOR THE MONEY WHEN YOU FACTOR IN ALL OF THE STANDARD FEATURES AS WELL. ZOOM ZOOM!!!! I AGREE NIPPONONLY, I HAVE A 95 PATHFINDER AND AS A MOUNTAIN BIKER I USE THE GLASS HATCH FEATURE FREQUENTLY. BUT WITHOUT A HEAVY SPARE TIRE RACK TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY EVERY TIME YOU OPEN THE HATCH, I DON'T THINK I'LL MISS IT THAT MUCH. ARRIVAL??? SOON, I HOPE.
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    Similar to US-sport-s and Canadian-Sport-GT
    http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/brunoluong/vwp?.dir=/Mazda3&- .dnm=yellow_SP.jpg&.src=ph&.view=t&.hires=t

    Bruno
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    from Tokyo Motor Show here

    Bruno
  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    I'd like the one in the last photo, please. ;)
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    Gary, your attention is wrongly focused. :)
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    ...wheels. :)

    Seriously....they do look nice when placed against that metallic red. Is that the same red as on the RX-8?
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    yes it's the same! Good eyes, I'm impressed!
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    Black, Sand Mica, etc...

    click here

    Bruno
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    I made sure not to leave any drool on it. :)
  • eteaetea Member Posts: 30
    Bruno,

    I saw in your "Exterior Colors" image that orange is not listed, whilst it is shown on other pictures.

    Is there any specific reason? (European color only?)

    I hope you enjoy france, always nice to go there, although I have the advantage of being french-speaking ;)

    Merci encore pour tous les liens et photos!

    Etienne
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    Good question, but unfortunately there is no short answer.

    The CA-trims on my site is based on Preston's information, and according to him, the Lava Orange is not available for Canada market. This informations is rather old. Also please keep in mind that the finale decision about available colors in Canada hasn't been finalized yet. There are two facts that lead me to believe that there is hope that Canada might get the Lava Orange.

    - The 5-door US will get the Lava Orange color.
    - The Mazda3 hatchback currently used by Automobile Journalists Association of Canada for testing in regards of the Car of the Year election is a Lava Orange.

    Sorry, I couldn't give a clearer answer.

    Bruno
  • wongpreswongpres Member Posts: 422
    Actually, the Canadian-trim section on Bruno's website does list the orange (colour code 27Y). It's just that Canada calls it 'Sunset Orange Mica' whereas US calls it 'Lava Orange Mica'.

    Having said that, the following Mazda3 colours are available for the US but NOT for Canada:

    - solar yellow
    - nordic green
    - starlight green
  • eteaetea Member Posts: 30
    Preston,

    Thanks for the update! :)

    Can't way to see one at the dealership... but I still fear that there might be some problems with the first year production model... problems that would get fixed in the 2nd year production model..

    Damn, we'll see.!
  • mikusmikus Member Posts: 109
    Sedan was available to sit in, hatch was jacked up high enough to walk underneath. Well, as much as I like hatchbacks I must say that Gremlin-like back and funky sides does not do much good to hatchback. I find current Pro5 more dignified and honest if I can say that.

    Sedan looks better for my taste, wheelbase is longer, but rear seats are still cramped. Instruments are surrounded with three "gun-barrels" which are longer and look nicer than those that Matrix has. Though I do not like this instrumentation style, be it Pontiac or Alpha. Anyway, it does not look that bad.

    Looks like engine has separate coils on each spark plug and distributorless ignition system. Also, one could notice when walking under jacked up hatchback, that engine has additional axle mount for the right axle to make them of even length. Nice Lancia-like touch to prevent pulling to the right at the high acceleration, the quirk which is usually a Saab trademark. Overall, the car looks very nice from underneath, with exhaust pipe, fuel line, brake/ABS lines laid up in nice order.

    I bet that Mazda3 will be a blast in US, considering its american-friendly curvacieous styling with some bangle-like front treatment while combining it with good economy and functionality. Big engine is a help too. Toyota has to rethink its Matrix packaging and install a bigger engine pronto, or Matrix sales will plummet after Mazda3 hatchback comes on the scene.
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    about engine and front axle.

    Just to clarify: Sedan and Hatch Mazda3 have the same wheelbase, and it's 3cm (1.18") longer than the Protegé/P5.

    Unlike the Protegé/P5, the Mazda3 sedan rear passenger interior has less room than its 5-door counter part, especially regarding the headroom. I have a picture that taken inside and toward the back for both 5-door and 4-door, and one can see very well the lower roof of the sedan.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Equal-length half-shafts = no torque steer.

    -juice
  • mikusmikus Member Posts: 109
    ...how is that different from what I said?
  • orangelebaronorangelebaron Member Posts: 435
    "Toyota has to rethink its Matrix packaging and install a bigger engine pronto, or Matrix sales will plummet after Mazda3 hatchback comes on the scene. "

    ...Not only that..they have to rethink their sucky driving position with the too far away steering wheel that hardly adjusts and the seats that are way too mushy. And the useless bumps on the doors that are supposed to be armrests... and standard drum brakes... and...

    But wait it's a Toyota... "I'll take it!"
  • lmp180psulmp180psu Member Posts: 399
    According to cars.com, Toyota will introduce a higher performance version of the Corolla to celebrate its 35th? anniversary. It is based of the 180hp engine in the Matrix and will have 170hp, but it will only have torque in the 120's I think. It might compete with the Mazda3, because of its quality reputation, but I know I would rather have the Mazda3 because whenever Toyota makes a car sporty, it puts on body cladding which is really tacky.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    for a while that the corolla S should have more power and a stiffer suspension to go with the sporty-looking stuff they attach to it - makes sense.

    if you want a sporty Matrix, you get the XRS, which will compete directly with the Mazda3 hatch for price. This trim does NOT have standard drum brakes. But the seats could be a lot better, it is true.

    Once the 3 arrives, it will carry the sport banner for Japanese-brand sport five-doors for a while, no question. But by the time it is here, the Matrix will be two years into its life cycle, and that's halfway to the next gen, so it's not EXACTLY apples to apples.

    The 3 hatch looks to be a ripping bargain when it arrives. I like what I have seen so far! :-)

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • zaimonzaimon Member Posts: 124
    "Once the 3 arrives, it will carry the sport banner for Japanese-brand sport five-doors for a while, no question."

    Something that both the Matrix and the Subaru Imprezas (WRX and STi) offer - that is missing with the MZ3 - is AWD which for me could break the deal for an early buy if they decide to introduce an AWD MZ3 later on.

    The MZ3 should hold up really well against the Matrix as most people go for the Subaru for AWD capability. I wonder how someone would make he choice between the MZ3 and the WRX tho (especially since fully loaded, the MZ3 comes close the WRX pricing)...?

    BTW, have you seen photos of Saab's 9-2 wagon which shares the Impreza's underpinnings? Pretty sweet if you ask me.
  • creakid1creakid1 Member Posts: 2,032
    but then it's a Belgian-made car.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    mikus: I just summarized. ;-)

    The AWD Matrix gets just 123hp, FWIW. Mazda would be the only strong competitor to the Subies.

    -juice
  • gib11gib11 Member Posts: 47
    At mazda.ca (canadian) both GS/GT have sport bumpers. I tought they were different!
    And they don't say anything about side sills extensions on the GT. Aren't they suppose to be included?
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    - GS: sporty fog lights, sporty bumpers, side sill extensions, body coloured front grille, 16" wheels

    - GT: all GS goodies + roof spoiler and 17" wheels.
  • allen53flallen53fl Member Posts: 41
    "but then it's a Belgian-made car."

    Volvo's are from Sweden.

    Allen
  • creakid1creakid1 Member Posts: 2,032
    We get some built in England. We even get Mitsubishi from Australia.

    At least the Volvo S40's no longer from Holland. From my experience, Swedish-built Volvos are better built than the Belgian- or Dutch-built.

    Of course, nothing beats Japanese-built when comes to reliability. When the re-designed '98 Corolla were built in California, the structure was so weak that some had the windshield cracked!
  • gib11gib11 Member Posts: 47
    BLuong, since both cars have sport bumper and color grill, does that mean that we don't get the bee-ives grill, like the orange car, compare to the blue one?

    http://sc.groups.msn.com/tn/D9/B1/BrunoLuong/2/11.jpg

    http://sc.groups.msn.com/tn/D9/B1/BrunoLuong/2/1f.jpg
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    Correct, the canadian GS/GT trims get the body colored cheese-grater-type front grill just like the blue car.

    If you don't like it, the black grill is available as accessory, or try to find someone who wants to trade the front grill with you.
  • creakid1creakid1 Member Posts: 2,032
    Correct, 'cause America likes the PT Cruiser's loser looks. Mazda actually believes that'll be the winner looks here.

    "If you don't like it, the black grill is available as accessory, or try to find someone who wants to trade the front grill with you."

    But then since the 4-dr & 5-dr aren't suppose to be interchangeable, that "someone" has to be very far away. ;-)
  • dinu01dinu01 Member Posts: 2,586
    I think the coloured grille is only for the GFX package on the GT...

    Dinu
  • wongpreswongpres Member Posts: 422
    They're talking about the hatch here, not the sedan. Both Canadian-spec Mazda3 Sport trims (GS & GT) come with the sport grille.
  • gib11gib11 Member Posts: 47
    I don't mind that we only have the color grill, since it's the one I prefer. But it would be preferable if MZ3sport buyers had other choices.
  • dinu01dinu01 Member Posts: 2,586
    I thought only the sedan's GFX and the HB's GT come with it...

    Dinu
  • lmp180psulmp180psu Member Posts: 399
    If interested, I have created a new message board comparing the Mazda3 sedan and Mazda3 hatchback. I am having a tough time making up my mind between the sedan and hatch. This board would be a good place to discuss the advantages/disadvantages of each bodystyle.

    Not sure this new board is repetitive, but here is a link:

    mazdafun "Mazda3 Sedan vs. Mazda3 Hatchback" Nov 16, 2003 8:14pm
  • eteaetea Member Posts: 30
    Mazda 3s are coming to Montreal today or tomorrow..

    Will post more after my test drive!

    Etienne
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